Line #174 Franchise/BatmanArkhamSeries


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5	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/batman_arkham_7.png]]
6	[[caption-width-right:350:"I am the reason criminals breathe easier when the sun rises."]]
7
8	->''"It's the freakin' Bat!"''
9
10	''Batman: Arkham'' is a VideoGame series based, of course, on the ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' superhero franchise.
11
12	Each game revolves around the inmates of the infamous Arkham Asylum, the mental institution that holds (or [[CardboardPrison fails to hold]]) all of Batman's insane foes. ''Asylum'' has the Joker seizing control of Arkham Island and freeing all the other inmates, including the Bat-rogues. ''City'' takes place a year later, with Batman caught up in a plan to imprison Arkham's inmates in a walled-off area of Gotham City that includes pivotal locations in Batman's history, including [[DeathByOriginStory Crime Alley]] and [[CreateYourOwnVillain Ace Chemicals]]. ''Origins'' is a {{prequel}} detailing how Batman first met several of his enemies, including Joker, Bane, Deadshot, and the Riddler. ''Knight'' is the alleged finale of the series, in which Batman battles an alliance of his rogues led by Scarecrow and a new foe, the Arkham Knight, as they attempt to destroy Gotham and Batman once and for all.
13
14	In what was (at the time) a departure for most licensed games, the ''Arkham'' games are set in their own universe, nicknamed the Arkhamverse, which takes cues from all elements of the Batman mythos. AdaptationDistillation is in effect to create a setting that will have elements familiar to those with only a passing knowledge of Batman, but is free to tell its own story without adhering to a previously established continuity. The games are primarily based on the comics (the ComicBook/PostCrisis continuity to be specific), naturally, and incorporate aspects from some of the Dark Knight's most iconic storylines, including ''[[ComicBook/BatmanADeathInTheFamily A Death in the Family]]'', ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'', ''[[ComicBook/BatmanHush Hush]]'', ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'', ''[[ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns The Dark Knight Returns]]'', and more. From non-comic media, major influence comes from the [[Film/Batman1989 Tim]] [[Film/BatmanReturns Burton]] films, the [[Film/BatmanForever Joel]] [[Film/BatmanAndRobin Schumacher]] films, the [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy Christopher Nolan]] films, and ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' and the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse in general. The last is more notable, as Creator/KevinConroy and Creator/MarkHamill reprise their iconic roles as Batman and the Joker, respectively. Additionally, ''Asylum'' and ''City'' were written by acclaimed DCAU writer Creator/PaulDini.
15
16	The main games are third-person ActionAdventure with a WideOpenSandbox component, with a heavy emphasis on movement, combat against multiple foes simultaneously, and stealth-based type of gameplay. Batman has the ability to glide, use his GrapplingHookPistol to scale up and down most buildings and structures, and activate "detective mode", a special vision that allows him to take note of important persons and objects in the vicinity and survey a situation before deciding to move in. Each game also features a selection of Batman's gadgets, including batarangs, smoke pellets, explosive gel, the batclaw, a line launcher, hacking devices, and more. These tools let Batman explore the environment in new ways and give him new special attacks to take out enemies. A [[RPGElements levelling system]] allows the player to enhance Batman's attributes over time, unlocking new ways to use his gadgets, new features for them, new skills for Batman himself, etc.
17
18	The games are famous for introducing the "Freeflow combat system" based around three main actions: Attack, Stun, and Counter. Similar gameplay styles have now been incorporated into many other games, most notably ''[[Videogame/MiddleEarthShadowOfMordor Shadow of Mordor]]'', ''VideoGame/SleepingDogs2012'', and ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidV''. The system here sees Batman face different types of enemies utilizing various weapons that require particular types of attacks to damage them, and you're encouraged to mix up Batman's different attacks and gadgets to take them down with both speed and style. However, badass though he may be, Batman is not invincible, and in encounters with multiple opponents, if you just leap into the fray he'll quickly die to a hail of gunfire or a few well-placed kicks and punches. This is where the [[StealthBasedGame stealth based]] "predator sequences" come in, when Batman can't engage his enemies directly and utilizes more discrete methods. As Batman is known to do, use his gadgets, environmental hazards, and good old-fashioned trickery, to strike your foes from the shadows and melt away before they realize you were there.
19
20	On June 21, 2023, a [[CompilationReRelease port]] of the main Rocksteady trilogy was announced for the Platform/NintendoSwitch, and it released on December 1, 2023.
21
22	!!Games
23	!!!Main
24	[[index]]
25	* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' (2009)
26	* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' (2011)
27	** [[/index]]''Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition (2012)'': An UpdatedRerelease of ''City'' released exclusively on the Platform/WiiU, featuring gamepad and gyro integration, all of the DLC, and a new combat mode exclusive to the port.[[index]]
28	* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins'' (2013)
29	** ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOriginsBlackgate'' (2013) (A ''{{Metroidvania}}'' tie-in portable game)
30	* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' (2015)
31	* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamVR'' (2016): Originally a [[Platform/{{Playstation 4}} PlayStation VR]]-exclusive game, it has since been released on Steam.
32	* ''Batman: Return to Arkham'' (2016): Remastered ports of ''Arkham Asylum'' and ''City'' developed by Virtuos for [=PS4=] and Xbox One, with several graphical enhancements and all the DLC included (including previously console-exclusive DLC[[note]]Though ''Return to Arkham: City'' does not contain the additions from the ''Armored Edition'' for Wii U, such as the "Battle Armored Tech Mode" and the sonar[[/note]]). Both remasters would later be bundled with ''Knight'' (and all of its DLC) in a CompilationRerelease titled ''Batman: Arkham Collection''.
33	* ''Batman: Arkham Trilogy'' (2023): A compilation featuring ports of ''Asylum'', ''City'', and ''Knight'' for the Platform/NintendoSwitch, with all DLC included. The ports for ''Asylum'' and ''City'' are developed by Turn Me Up Games (who had previously done the Switch ports of the ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}} Legendary Collection'' and ''VideoGame/ItTakesTwo'') as opposed to Virtuos (the developers behind the ''Return to Arkham'' remasters).
34	* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamShadow'' (2024): A VR game exclusive to the [[Platform/OculusQuest Meta Quest 3]].
35
36	!!!Other
37	* ''Batman: Arkham City: Lockdown'' (2011): [[/index]][=iOS=] and Android fighting game by Creator/NetherrealmStudios which pits Batman against numerous enemies, including Slade "Comicbook/{{Deathstroke}}" Wilson, in one-on-one battles.
38	* ''Batman: Arkham Origins'' (2013): [=iOS=]/Android game, again by Netherrealm studios, with similar gameplay to ''Lockdown.''[[index]]
39	* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamUnderworld'' (2016): ''VideoGame/ClashOfClans'' clone based on the series, released alongside ''Arkham Knight.''
40	* ''VideoGame/SuicideSquadKillTheJusticeLeague'' (2024): A separate spin-off game set in the ''Arkham'' universe.
41
42	!!Animation
43	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAssaultOnArkham'' (2014): WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies film set in the ''Arkham'' universe. Has since been rendered [[CanonDiscontinuity non-canon]] by ''Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League''
44
45	!!Comics
46	* ''Batman: Arkham Asylum: The Road to Arkham'' (2009): [[/index]] A comic book {{prequel}} to the first game.
47	* ''Batman: Arkham City'' (2011): An {{interquel}} comic bridging the gap between ''Asylum'' and ''City''.[[index]]
48	* ''ComicBook/BatmanArkhamUnhinged'' (2011–2013): A comic book miniseries following various villains before and during ''Arkham City'', including Hugo Strange, TYGER security, and various Arkham inmates.[[/index]]
49	* ''Batman: Arkham City: End Game'' (2012): Six-issue digital comic set directly after the ending of ''City''.
50	* ''Batman: Arkham Origins'' (2013–2014): A {{prequel}} comic set before the events of the main game.
51	* ''Batman: Arkham Knight'' (2015): {{Interquel}} comic bridging the gap between ''City'' and ''Knight''.
52	** ''Batman: Arkham Knight: Genesis'' (2015): Another comic centering on the Arkham Knight himself.
53
54	!!Literature
55	* ''Literature/BatmanArkhamKnight'' (2015): Novelization by comic writer Marv Wolfman.
56	* ''Literature/BatmanArkhamKnightTheRiddlersGambit'' (2015): Prequel novel by Alex Irvine focusing on the Riddler.
57
58	Additionally, elements of the series have appeared in other series by WB Games. Notably, ''Arkham City''-inspired skins for Batman, Joker, Catwoman, and Harley Quinn[[note]] as well as ''Arkham Origins'' Batman and Deathstroke in the mobile version[[/note]] appear in Netherrealm Studios' ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'', and the ''Arkham Knight'' Batmobile makes a (sadly non-drivable) appearance in ''VideoGame/LegoBatman 3: Beyond Gotham''.
59	----
60	!!Tropes in this series:
61	* AbortedArc: Quite a few.
62	** Finishing the Spirit of Arkham sidequest in ''Asylum'' reveals that [[spoiler: Warden Sharp is the reincarnation of Amadeus Arkham]]. However, an Arkham Story in ''City'' reveals that [[spoiler: he was just hypnotized by Dr. Strange with the help of the Mad Hatter]]. This was furthered in ''Knight,'' where [[spoiler: Strange had Sharp commit suicide]].
63	** TheStinger for ''Asylum'' had either Bane, Scarecrow, or Killer Croc reaching for a canister of the TITAN formula, hinting that they were going to do something with it. However, in ''City,'' only Bane ever actually does anything with the TITAN formula.
64	** In ''City,'' you can find a positive pregnancy test somewhere in the Steel Mill, hinting that Harley Quinn was pregnant. However, going to that same room in ''Harley Quinn's Revenge'' shows a pile of negative pregnancy tests and a box with the disclaimer that it could give false positives.
65	* AdaptationDistillation: Truly one of the greatest incarnations of the Dark Knight and his rogues ever. It's actually a potluck of the best aspects of practically all his previous media incarnations: the grittiness of the Creator/ChristopherNolan [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy movies]], the gothic architecture and film noir-ish mood of the Creator/TimBurton films, the [[Creator/DCComics canon of the comics]], the voices and writing talent of the [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries animated series...]] It's difficult to imagine an incarnation of the Dark Knight that could so easily please all of Batman's fans from any medium.
66	** Batman is primarily based on his comic version, but he has the voice of [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries the animated version]] and his suit actually looks like body armor with a [[Film/BatmanBegins glider cape]]. His ''Arkham Origins'' design is armor with hard plates along the lines of his ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' costume and in ''Knight'', he's modeled on [[Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice Ben Affleck]] and wears metal armor akin to his ''Franchise/{{Injustice}}'' incarnation.
67	** Joker -- again, primarily based on his comic version, but he has [[Film/TheDarkKnight Heath Ledger's suit]], a face that looks a lot like [[Film/Batman1989 Jack Nicholson]] (and his face and hair getting a [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries younger look]] in ''Origins''), he [[spoiler:transforms into a muscle-bound hulk]] similar to [[WesternAnimation/TheBatman Kevin Michael Richardson's Joker]], they used [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries Mark Hamill's voice]] ''and'' we can count Hamill's voice as [[Series/Batman1966 a Caesar Romero reference]]. There's a lot of similarity there, especially in the laugh, thus completing the full spectrum of Batman Jokers. In ''Origins'', he dresses similarly to his ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' and ''ComicBook/{{Joker}}'' incarnation.
68	** The Clayface in this game bears Basil Karlo's name (blink-and-you-miss-it when Bats takes Harley's "party list") and now-in-continuity powers: otherwise he's an amalgamated ''Batman: The Animated Series'' Clayface (Matt Hagen) and Preston Payne. This is canon. Karlo acquired the powers of Hagen and Payne in the early 90s. What's new, however, is his desire to impersonate people. In the comics, Karlo turned to crime out of [[ItsAllAboutMe egomania]]. The acting ability was a trait of Hagen's in the animated series.
69	** Two-Face's unscarred side is modelled on [[Film/BatmanForever Tommy Lee Jones]], and he speaks in plural here as there, yet his suit is half-black and half-white like his ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' version, his scars and suit resemble [[Film/TheDarkKnight Aaron Eckhart's]] and his Two-Face voice sounds like [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries Richard Moll]].
70	** Bane uses Venom as in the comics, but in ''Origins'', his outfit (barring the mask) is similar to [[Film/TheDarkKnightRises Tom Hardy's]].
71	** While Penguin's not disfigured (or at least in the same way) as he was in ''Film/BatmanReturns'', his clothes are similar to those worn by the Penguin there and looks a bit like Creator/DannyDeVito, albeit how the actor normally looks. He has a similar backstory of his family having a grudge against the Waynes ala ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman''. As with both, he's also savage and animalistic, but trying to pass off as refined personality instead of the actual refined personality of the comics version.
72	* AdaptationalBadass:
73	** Arguably Batman himself! ''Arkham'' Batman is arguably the strongest Batman incarnation of all time. In the first game, ''Videogame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', he was injected with Scarecrow's toxin multiple times and fought through it with no rest or antidote. In the second game, ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'', his survival of the events is all that is needed to be mentioned. He fights off essentially ''all'' of his most famous foes in '''''a single night,''''' most of which were taken down '''''WHILE HE WAS AT THE BRINK OF DEATH.''''' The only time the comics Batman has even done anything close to this was in Knightfall, and even then, he only had a fraction of the hinderances the Arkham Batman had, and only took down a fraction of the criminals Arkham Batman took down in one night, and comics Batman ''lost'' while Arkham Batman ''won.'' In the prequel, ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins'', he defeated Lady Shiva twice, once when he was still in training; defeated Deathstroke without problems in his 2nd year; beat up Killer Croc; and Bane did the backbreaker on him… and COULDN'T break his back, unlike in the comics and [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy Nolanverse]].
74	** In comics and most adaptations, Hugo Strange is a criminal mastermind or conman whereas in ''Arkham City'' he is a ManipulativeBastard who gets the top on all of Batman's rogues except Joker. Likewise in the comics, Hugo Strange was the first villain to learn of Batman's identity but in the original story, ''Strange Apparitions'', it came about because he trapped Batman and unmasked him and in ''Prey'' he managed to trick Batman into revealing it, whereas here he's competent enough as a shrink to create an accurate psychological profile of Batman from a distance.
75	** Calendar Man goes from a Harmless gimmick villain to being a vicious serial killer who is genuinely menacing, ComicBook/TheRiddler's OCD leads him to build many a DeathTrap, serving as a WildCard who creates a network of informants in different factions and as an unofficial KnowledgeBroker for Gotham's underworld. ComicBook/MrFreeze and Clayface likewise have a larger profile in these games, with Mr. Freeze providing Batman the most intricate BossFight of the entire series and [[spoiler:Clayface being the FinalBoss of Arkham City, providing the largest character model as well as being one of the few villains Batman uses lethal force against]].
76	** ComicBook/TheScarecrow, a minor villain in most comic events and in ''Film/BatmanBegins'', gets a scarier costume, serves as a LevelInBossClothing in ''Asylum'' before becoming the BigBad of ''Arkham Knight'' where he unleashes a level of destruction that exceeds Hugo Strange and Joker and [[spoiler:finally outs Batman's SecretIdentity before the world, which no villain in any adaptation has ''ever'' done]].
77	** While most incarnations of [[spoiler:Jason Todd]] are badasses in their own right, none of them are at the level of ''Arkham Knight'''s incarnation, who [[spoiler:(as the titular Arkham Knight) leads an army of professional killers whom he's specifically trained to kill Batman, and manages to take over Gotham in mere hours]].
78	** Whilst Tim Drake in the comics is by no means un-badass, his ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' appearance definitely seems to be aiming for a grittier approach to the character, with a far more chiseled and muscled appearance, a buzz cut, and the idea that he takes part in cage-fighting in his spare time.
79	* AdaptedOut: Despite featuring Arkham Asylum, Blackgate Penitentiary, and Iron Heights Penitentiary, none of the canonical guys in charge (Jeremiah Arkham, Victor Zehrhard, and Gregory Wolfe) appear, instead replaced respectively by [[CanonForeigner Quincy Sharp, Joseph Martin, and Ranken]] respectively.
80	* AfterCombatRecovery: Achieved in a somewhat roundabout way. Gaining experience points restores your health, and beating people up gives you XP. Ergo, damage taken in combat may be healed from the XP you got from fighting. Depending on how much damage you took and how much XP you got, you may or may not be restored to full health. Bosses reliably give you enough XP to heal fully, however. The reason this works for this trope is that the XP doesn't tally (and thereby the healing doesn't begin) until you finish the entire encounter, whether it's a gang of ten mooks trying to beat you down or a room full of gun-toting mooks you have to stealth-kill.
81	* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs:
82	** ''Arkham City'' has a pair of DownloadableContent challenge maps that are AugmentedReality simulations of [[CrazyPrepared theoretical attacks on the Batcave and Wayne Manor by TYGER soldiers]]. Supplemental materials reveal that [[spoiler:this exact scenario occurs during protocol 10, but Nightwing and Alfred are able to hold off the guards until the GCPD arrive.]]
83	** In ''Arkham Origins'', the Batcave is attacked by [[spoiler: Bane after he deduces that Bruce Wayne is Batman]], while Wayne Manor is attacked during the ActionPrologue of the ''Cold, Cold Heart'' DLC.
84	** In ''Arkham Knight'', Scarecrow's forces attack Batman's clock tower and [[spoiler: kidnap Barbara Gordon]] off-screen. The trope is downplayed in a later sequence where the Arkham Knight's drones attack Wayne Tower; [[spoiler: as the Arkham Knight is Jason Todd, he knows full well that Bruce Wayne is Batman, but neither Batman nor the player are aware of this at this point in the story, and it's easy to assume that the Arkham Knight is just trying to seize control of one of the tallest buildings in Gotham City]].
85	* AlternateContinuity: The first game was designed to be consistent to the history presented in the comics. The second game, as well as the third prequel game, establishes several key differences. Namely that ''Arkham City'' is Batman's first encounter with Hugo Strange and ''Knight'' confirms that the three main games on the whole cover [[spoiler:the final three years of his crime-fighting career ending with the {{Gotterdammerung}} of most of Batman's RoguesGallery, Arkham Asylum and Batman himself]].
86	* AlternateHistory: Beginning with ''City'', the series provides several hints that the advanced progression of technology in this version of the DC Universe has radically sped up cultural development, partially explaining why [[SchizoTech Art Deco cities and zeppelin travel lines exist alongside cellphones and unmanned attack drones]] -- a strategically crumbled commemorative engraving on the balcony above the gates of Arkham City reveals the facility was opened at some point in the 1990's. Likewise, Modern Gotham was built on Wonder City, a Ra's Al Ghul sponsored {{Steampunk}} township filled with automatons and Lazarus-powered "green" energy. The Cyrus Pinkney side quest in ''Origins'' reveals that Gotham had functional automobiles in 1855 [[spoiler:(possibly due to Lazarus Technology)]], and Deathstroke, 55 at the time of ''Knight'', reveals that, like his comic counterpart, he fought in the Vietnam War.
87	* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: Every game features DLC playable characters. Notably, each one features a different villain as one of the playable characters.
88	** ''Asylum'' has ComicBook/TheJoker.
89	** ''City'' has ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}, ComicBook/{{Robin}}, and ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}.
90	** ''Origins'' has ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}} and Initiation Bruce Wayne.
91	** ''Knight'' has ComicBook/HarleyQuinn, ComicBook/RedHood and ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}. ComicBook/{{Azrael}} is playable in a series of sidequests. Commissioner Gordon, GCPD Officer Owens and [[spoiler: The Joker]] are also playable in scripted story sequences.
92	** ''[[WesternAnimation/BatmanAssaultonArkham Assault On Arkham]]'' implied that ComicBook/AmandaWaller was killed by ComicBook/{{Deadshot}}, ''of all people''.
93	* AntiFrustrationFeatures:
94	** The games grant the player some mercies that help leave informants the last man standing in a fight. Takedown attacks will not target them unless they are the only target available. Informants are also not keen on picking up weapons or shields to fight with.
95	** Firearms, while rare in combat encounters, are probably the single most dangerous weapon for your combo meter you can encounter in a melee fight. However, the games tend to make it obvious when a firearm is about to enter the field, as the cabinets the mooks get fresh guns cause an audible alarm, and if the opponent found a gun lying around, there's another audible sign when the're getting ready to fire. And even then, the first volley almost always misses so you have one last chance to deal with the armed mook before they get to deal some real damage.
96	* ArtifactTitle: The series is referred to as "Arkham" despite leaving the asylum completely after the first game [[spoiler:at least until the climax of ''Arkham Knight'']]. Each successive title has made justifications for the title; ''City'' was based around the idea of creating a small city (an isolated part of Gotham) to serve as a wing of the Asylum, ''Origins'' makes sense as the origin story of some of the inhabitants of the Asylum (and indirectly, but significantly, the Asylum itself), and ''Knight'' has a self-titled antagonist whose back-story includes the Asylum heavily and, [[WordofGod per Sefton Hill]], is a DoubleMeaning title that refers to Batman himself [[spoiler:who is progressively going insane as a result of Scarecrow gas and Joker toxin and returns to the Asylum at the finale, where his identity is exposed and his career is finished]].
97	* ArtisticLicenseBiology:
98	** The idea that being rendered unconscious would consistently lower the average person's heart rate to around 30 bpm is pure fantasy. In fact, that would likely be a dangerous drop in heart activity.
99	** Silent Takedowns usually consist of Batman or another playable character covering a thug's mouth and nose for a few seconds before they pass out. While it ''is'' possible to be chocked into unconsciousness in such a way, it would take far longer to do in real life than what's shown in the games. Sometimes (albeit rarely) Batman employs the far more realistic [[https://images.app.goo.gl/jV34s4jyLACbbNhs7 vascular neck restraint]] technique instead.
100	* AwesomeButImpractical: The ground takedown is a brutal one-hit KO where Batman slams a fallen goon's head into the ground, which also gives him a larger point bonus than any other normal takedown in AR challenges. The problem is that the animation is slow, lacks invincibility frames, and can't be canceled, so more often than not Batman will get pummeled by other enemies and the attack will be cancelled.
101	* BedlamHouse: Arkham naturally.
102	** From ''Asylum'': The marketing (as evidenced in the tie-in Arkham Care website and some of the in-game PA announcements) ''desperately'' tries to make it seem like a pleasant, modern psychiatric institution. To utterly hilarious degrees; it's really something to stand in a dank, creepy and falling-apart Arkham corridor listening to a pleasant voice on a commercial witter on about how Arkham is 'the state's premier psychiatric therapeutic facility', how the famous supervillains who get locked up there 'are only half the story' and other such nonsense.
103	** ''City'': Proudly features an ''even worse'' solution: Arkham City, a walled-off slum section of Gotham where former Arkham patients and Blackgate convicts alike are thrown in and left to their own devices. [[spoiler: Then hired mercs kill everyone in the place]]. How therapeutic.
104	** Just like in the comic canon, Arkham and Gotham's darkness is so much, the ''founder'' of the Asylum, Amadeus Arkham, was eventually driven insane and admitted as an inmate.
105	* BigBad: ComicBook/TheJoker is the BigBad for the series overall but every game other than ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum Arkham Asylum]]'' has [[BigBadEnsemble at least]] [[BigBadDuumvirate one more]].
106	** In ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity Arkham City]]'', it's [[MadDoctor Hugo Strange]] who is responsible for the construction of the mega prison that Batman is thrown into with [[spoiler: ComicBook/RasAlGhul as [[GreaterScopeVillain his financer]]]].
107	** ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins Arkham Origins]]'' has ComicBook/{{Bane}}, [[WorldsStrongestMan the deadliest]] [[DragonWithAnAgenda and most proactive of the 8 assassins]].
108	** ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight Arkham Knight]]'' gives us ComicBook/TheScarecrow, who is attempting to detonate a chemical bomb that will cover Gotham and the entire East Coast in [[PsychoSerum fear gas]] and [[SociopathicSoldier The Arkham Knight]], who oversees the military occupation of Gotham that ensures chaos rules the streets and Scarecrow's plans go accordingly. [[spoiler: And while ComicBook/TheJoker is long dead at this point, he still exists as a hallucination in Batman's mind, impeding him at every turn with MindRape and is ultimately the greatest threat to him, planning a SplitPersonalityTakeover and wreaking havoc on the world afterwards.]]
109	* BittersweetEnding: It's [[TragicHero Batman']]s story. Do you expect anything else?
110	** ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins Arkham Origins]]'': [[spoiler: Batman has defeated Black Mask and his assassins, ingratiated himself with the police, and managed to make Gotham less of a hellhole, but Black Mask's fall leads to a power vacuum in Gotham's underworld that [[ComicBook/TheJoker a certain clown]] steps in to fill, [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum and we all know how that goes]].]]
111	** ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum Arkham Asylum]]'': [[spoiler: Batman stops Joker and prevents Gotham from destruction by TITAN. But Arkham Asylum is heavily damaged, almost everybody of its staff is dead. And there's [[KnightTemplar Quincy Sharp's]] plans about [[TheAlcatraz Arkham City]]...]]
112	** ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity Arkham City]]'': Batman saves the day. Unfortunately, [[spoiler: [[ComicBook/TaliaAlGhul Talia]] is dead ([[DeathIsCheap at least for now]]), ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}'s apartment got bombed by ComicBook/TwoFace, it's left unclear whether any of the people Joker poisoned can be saved[[note]]though it is later revealed in ''Harley Quinn's Revenge'' that all of them did get cured in time[[/note]], and Batman actually intended to save the Joker, despite the latter's evil nature, and failed. It is also mentioned that close to a quarter of the Arkham City population were killed in the Protocol 10 attack. Some of these casualties were likely innocent political prisoners.]]
113	*** The ''Harley Quinn's Revenge'' DLC ends with [[spoiler: Harley's plan a resounding failure, but Bruce is still even more emotionally closed-off than usual. Not even the brief prospect of losing Tim gets him to open up - he just grapples away, leaving a very concerned Gordon in his wake.]]
114	** ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight Arkham Knight]]'': The BigBadEnsemble is thwarted and the GCPD takes Gotham back, but [[spoiler:Scarecrow has successfully made Batman suffer, and unmasked him in front of Gotham and the world. In order to keep everyone else safe, Bruce and Alfred blow up Wayne Manor [[TheHeroDies with themselves inside]], and possibly die. Gotham is watched over by a new Batman.]]
115	* BlockingStopsAllDamage: Countering attacks prevents any damage and contributes to your total combo count.
116	* BookEnds: ''Arkham City'', which sees [[spoiler: the end of the Batman/Joker feud ends with the Joker singing about him and Batman over part of the end credits.]] Similarly, ''Arkham Origins'', which sees [[spoiler: the start of the feud, ends the same way.]]
117	** For the whole franchise in general, the finale of Arkham Knight [[spoiler: takes place in the same location the series started: in Arkham Asylum.]]
118	* BoringButPractical:
119	** The dodge maneuver doesn't deal any damage, isn't accompanied by any satisfying sound effects, and is more likely to extend the length of combat without making it any more interesting. However, since it reliably provides invincibility frames, dodging after each attack is one of the safest ways to rack up high combos and scores, since even giant brutes and gunmen can't break Batman's combo while he dodges. [[note]]This slow-but-steady method of "dodge, attack, dodge, attack" has been nicknamed the "Hop-N-Bop."[[/note]]
120	** The weapon-breaking special move resets your special combat meter and doesn't knock anyone out, but it is absolutely vital to get rid of the various weapons that the thugs can use, especially the guns (which shred Batman's health) and the shields (which can abruptly reset your combo if you accidentally hit one).
121	** For enemies, some of the most effective tools in their arsenals aren't guns, mines, or anything high tech -- instead, knives and shields. Enemies wielding them have attacks that can't be countered or require a precise input to counter (which may be locked behind upgrades), Batman can't attack into them easily since knife-wielding enemies will dodge away and shields will block his normal strikes, and in ''Arkham Knight'' they can't be disabled with the disruptor prior to getting into a fight.
122	** Robin, Nightwing, and Catwoman's group attacks don't cause much damage, but they are great for getting the player some breathing room to avoid being attacked and in combat challenges, because of the way the scoring system works, the attacks are easily the most point-efficient attack in the game (the attack has a certain amount of points, but it is then multiplied for every person the attack hits; at high combos, you can easily get thousands of points at once).
123	* BurnScarsBurningPowers: Firefly is a {{Pyromaniac}} armed with a flamethrower, and as you can tell once he wears a more skin-baring outfit in ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight Arkham Knight]]'', the majority of his body is covered in third-degree burn scars.
124	* ButThouMust:
125	** Several times in ''City'' and ''Knight'', you're seemingly given a choice which actually has only one "correct" option, with the other leading to a NonStandardGameOver. ''Knight'' plays with this a bit in one of this choices, where it actually forces you to take the "wrong" option once before giving you the choice again, [[spoiler:revealing the former to be a DaydreamSurprise]].
126	** Averted in one of ''Knight'''s sidequests, which instead uses a LastSecondEndingChoice which determines [[spoiler:Azrael]]'s fate.
127	** Also used in ''Origins'' during Anarky's side quest. He tells Batman that he has a choice: let Anarky's bombs stationed around Gotham detonate or defuse them and Bats' decision will determine what Anarky does with him. Naturally, you being [[IncorruptiblePurePureness Batman]], you are forced to defuse the bombs to progress the quest. Letting them detonate will always lead to a GameOver.
128	* CallForward: Joker's hair was darkened a bit in ''Return To Arkham'' remaster, so it matches the color in ''Knight''. (Which got darker to match with ''Origins'')
129	* CanonImmigrant:
130	** The female version of Copperhead made her debut as part of ComicBook/DCRebirth, though there's been plans for her to debut as part of the ComicBook/New52 era.
131	** ''Detective Comics'' #1000 saw the Arkham Knight as a ''costumed identity'' appear, but [[spoiler:this turned out to be a fusion of DecompositeCharacter and SamusIsAGirl as the comics Knight turned out to be Astrid Arkham, the daughter of Jeremiah Arkham.]]
132	* CardboardPrison:
133	** ''Origins:'' It begins and ends with a riot at Blackgate Penitentiary. In ''Origins Blackgate'' Batman enters the prison to quell another riot.
134	** ''Asylum:'' A fire at Blackgate has resulted in much of the Joker's gang being moved to the asylum. Joker stages another riot within minutes of being brought back.
135	** ''City:'' The prison was made because of the damage done to the existing prisons in the last game. Black Mask managed to escape briefly; Strange added turrets to the walls in response, Strange [[spoiler:tried to fake a breakout to justify Protocol 10]], and Catwoman has the option to escape during her story arc. [[spoiler: Doing so results in a NonStandardGameOver where Joker's gang breaks out and lays siege to Gotham]].
136	** ''Knight'': Not in the main plot, but the DLC and an EasterEgg. Said Easter Egg? [[spoiler: Setting the clock to 10/31/2015 sees Kirk Langstrom transform back into Man-Bat and escape from the GCPD. Whereas the Season of Infamy DLC's Kiler Croc mission has a brief one at Iron Heights Penitentiary, and two of the Arkham Episodes have Penguin and Riddler making failed attempts, and a third one sees Two-Face having a successful, albeit brief, one.]]
137	* CastOfSnowflakes: The game is quite well regarded for its unique character models and [=NPCs=] several of these models as well as variations can be seen in a separate page on the game's menu. The increase in character models from Arkham Asylum to City and from there to Knight is fairly astounding to observe in terms of SequelEscalation.
138	* CrapsackWorld: A decent argument could be made that the games are actually darker than the main verse, and possibly even the darkest ''Batman'' adaptations ever made. To recap...
139	** In ''Asylum''; At least half of the asylum's staff is murdered by the Joker's gang, and Joker intends to do the same to the rest of Gotham. Across the game, Batman at best saves the lives of some 20-odd Arkham personnel and salvages a worse disaster had Joker's Titan plan succeeded, but in the end, Joker killed 100 people in a single night, and every body you come across only increases the sense that Batman fails more often than he succeededs.
140	** In ''City'': [[spoiler: 121 people die during Protocol 10. Gotham apparently has a population in the millions, and given the huge crime rate and how many people Strange and Sharp were apparently throwing in, it's likely that Arkham had a population that's nearly a thousand, and when Strange states that at least 22 percent of the inmates were killed, it's clear that hundreds were murdered, with 121 being one number cited by a TYGER command, including many who likely did nothing to deserve it]], and this isn't counting the political prisoners and doctors killed by the Joker, [[spoiler:or that Batman ultimately fails to save Talia, the love of his life in the Arkhamverse, from Joker. In the end, the Joker does die, but there's no sense of triumph or catharsis]].
141	** In ''Origins'': Gordon is the only honest cop we see; beyond him, the police are all thugs with uniforms who hurt people for no reason beyond wanting to amuse themselves. And this is all before the assassins showed up [[spoiler: along with the Joker, who apparently killed most of the staff at the Gotham Royal Hotel, at least 1/4 of Black Mask's men, and likely a great deal of the staff at Blackgate when he broke out and started the riot.]]
142	** In ''Knight'', [[spoiler:Scarecrow extorts the city into evacuating the city population, but it's definitely likely that several remained behind in the city since the evacuation took place in 24 hours. Furthermore, Scarecrow successfully unleashes a chemical weapon on a city population, and while that was countered by ComicBook/PoisonIvy's WorldHealingWave, it's likely that it would have aftereffects for years. Furthermore, Batman ends up having his identity exposed by Scarecrow, a defeat much worse than anything he has experienced in any other comic, animated, and film adaptation. The ending leaves it ambiguous if Bruce survives, but his classic career as Batman is finished, and while most of his villains seem incapacitated at the end of the campaign, others like Two-Face and Black Mask continue to torment Gotham afterwards, as evidenced by the DLC episodes. That's not even getting into the implication that Lazarus Pit chemicals leaking into the city water system for ''years'' is the actual reason Gotham has such a high rate of mental illness and crime ([[TokenHeroicOrc and this includes Batman]]).]]
143	* ComicBookFantasyCasting:
144	** As mentioned in AdaptationDistillation, a lot of characters resemble actors who've played them before, including ComicBook/TheJoker looking like Creator/JackNicholson, ComicBook/TwoFace's unscarred side looking like Creator/TommyLeeJones (though he has ''The Dark Knight'' level scarring), ComicBook/ThePenguin looking like Creator/DannyDeVito (albeit as the actor normaly looks), and even Batman in ''Knight'' resembles Creator/BenAffleck. This also extends to voice acting, as Creator/WallyWingert admitted to trying to emulate Frank Gorshin's laugh as ComicBook/TheRiddler and Creator/TroyBaker likewise admitted to emulating Richard Moll's Two-Face voice. Likewise, many found Baker's Harvey Dent voice to sound similar to Creator/AaronEckhart and Creator/RogerCraigSmith's voice as the younger Batman to sound like Christian Bale's Batman voice at times.
145	** Unrelated to past actors, ComicBook/TheRiddler in ''City'' and ''Knight'' resembles (respectively) Creator/StephenMerchant and Creator/CharlieSheen, and ComicBook/{{Robin}} in the latter game resembles {{Music/Eminem}}. Copperhead in ''Origins'' resembles Music/MileyCyrus. In ''City'', Creator/CoreyBurton used his Creator/ChristopherLee impression for Hugo Strange.
146	* {{Deconstruction}}: Due to being a kind of amalgamation of a lot of different Batman universes, the ''Arkham'' franchise really takes a look at some of the problems of the Batman mythos. The series takes a good look at a lot of the Batman's mental problems (trust issues, guilt over his parents, unwillingness to work together with others unless it's mandatory, pride and arrogance, and obsession with crimefighting), series tropes like JokerImmunity, ideas like the relationship between Batman and his rogues gallery and, in the end, if all this destruction and suffering really ''is'' doing any good for Gotham.
147	* DeducingTheSecretIdentity: The Series has some examples of people figuring out the Bat's identity, though some of them never reveal it to Batman or anyone else:
148	** In an interview tape found in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'', Hugo Strange managed to deduce Batman's identity by simply creating a psychological profile of a man who would be the caped crusader, and then matching it to the most likely person who could fit the mask. Strange smugly taunts ComicBook/TheRiddler about the fact he figured it out before the InsufferableGenius could.
149	--->'''Riddler:''' I know you were lying, Strange. There's no way that you could have figured it out! It's some kind of trick. It must be!\
150	'''Strange:''' Oh, I use no tricks, no childish puzzles. I simply created a psychological profile of the man most likely to be the Batman, and then matched it against the most logical candidate. I was right, of course.\
151	'''Riddler:''' Well, ''who '''is''' he?!''\
152	'''Strange:''' Ah, but that would spoil the game for you, wouldn't it?\
153	'''Riddler:''' You must tell me! I implore you Strange! I--\
154	'''Strange:''' Really, Edward? If I could figure it out, it must be ''child's play'' for you.\
155	'''Riddler:''' But I... I...\
156	'''Strange:''' Interesting. Tell me Edward, how is the Riddler like a blank dictionary?\
157	'''Riddler:''' [[StunnedSilence ...]]\
158	'''Strange:''' ''You're '''both''' at a loss for words.''
159	** In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins'', it's implied that Bane figured out Batman's identity by tracking radar telemetry of the Batwing's movements.
160	** In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', one [[EnemyChatter random mook conversation]] has two henchmen managing to put the pieces together based on a couple factors. The first is Batman's funding, and if he isn't government-funded, it'd have to be some rich guy. Another mook throws out Bruce Wayne as a candidate, with another one replying "Yeah, maybe it's him." This is followed by a chuckle, with them all dismissing it as impossible, but they managed to figure it out before the aforementioned Riddler could.
161	* DifficultButAwesome: Most of Nightwing's gadgets don't have an equivalent to Batman and, unlike Robin and Catwoman, can't be play-tested in the main game before you take them to the Challenges. In spite of this, their unique styles, such as being able to use the Escrima Sticks around corners and the Wrist Dart potentially being a OneHitKO, add a completely new dimension to the predator challenges and open up a lot of new creative avenues if you get used to them.
162	* DisabledInTheAdaptation:
163	** While his eyesight was fine prior to ''Knight'' and ''VR'', in those two games, Alfred takes after [[Film/Batman1989 Michael Gough]] and [[Series/Batman1966 Alan Napier]]'s incarnations in needing to wear glasses.
164	** While fine during ''Origins'' and ''Blackgate'', the Penguin during the events of ''City'', ''Knight'', and ''VR'' features a vent in his neck from smoking and a beer bottle jammed into his left eye in place of his traditional monocle. ''Assault on Arkham'', an interquel film, shows that the beer bottle happened at some point before ''Asylum'', though the lack of the vents suggested that happened between ''Assault'' and ''City''.
165	** The Calendar Man is an EvilCripple, his right leg being shorter than his left and wearing a brace and elevated shoe to compensate.
166	** Harley Quinn's DLC episode in ''Knight'' shows her hearing voices in her head.
167	* DiscOneFinalBoss: Many villains fit this trope.
168	** In "City": The Joker's boss fight happens just before Batman must take on the BigBad--Hugo Strange. But after Batman defeats Strange, it's quickly revealed he was [[spoiler: the puppet of Ra's Al Ghul, who then commits suicide minutes later]]. Batman then has to [[spoiler: save Talia from The Joker]], who appears to be the game's real BigBad. But after [[spoiler: rescuing Talia, who kills The Joker]], the true final boss is revealed in a major plot twist: [[spoiler: Clayface was employed by The Joker to impersonate him at various points in the game, and the Joker Talia stabbed was merely a decoy Joker, who transforms back into Clayface]].
169	** In "Origins": Black Mask is advertised and set up as the BigBad, only for a plot twist about a quarter way through the game to reveal that [[spoiler: The Joker is the true villain, having kidnapped Black Mask days earlier and taken over his operation]].
170	** Subverted somewhat in ''Knight''. Despite being billed as the main villain, Batman tracks down and attacks Scarecrow first, attempting to get rid of him as the most dangerous threat. [[spoiler: This backfires, and after being exposed to fear gas, Hallucination!Joker plagues Batman for the rest of the game as an EnemyWithin.]] Arkham Knight also appears to be a villain, possibly in a BigBadDuumvirate with Scarecrow. While the Knight does have significant plot presence, Scarecrow and [[spoiler: Hallucination!Joker]] fill in the roles as BigBad, with the Knight filling in a sort of DragonInChief role.
171	* EasterEgg: The Arkham games are famous for their incredibly subtle and clever Easter Eggs; some of them are incorporated into Riddler trophies, others simply visual details there for the fans to pick up, but its most famous ones are those that [[DidntSeeThatComing nobody noticed]] until the developers revealed it. In ''Arkham Asylum'', there was a secret room announcing the Arkham City plan that nobody found until it was outed a year later by the developers; in ''Arkham City'', two years after the game's release, it was revealed (in a video some suspected was also released by the developers, on a Website/YouTube channel with a cryptic pseudonym) that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=temF1OFCIPg there was a secret conversation with Calendar Man]] referencing Rocksteady and ''Arkham Knight''.
172	* EndOfAnAge: Each Batman game (except of course ''Origins'') marks the passing of a certain iconic feature of the Batman mythos:
173	** ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' [[spoiler:deals with the end of the Asylum which nearly gets totally destroyed in the course of the game's events. Likewise Blackgate Penitentiary was burned down before the game began. This destruction leads to a huge problem for the city on containing the criminal threat calling for a radical solution that was already in the works in the secret room of Quincy sharp]].
174	** ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' [[spoiler:ends with the death of the Joker, bringing his deadly rivalry with Batman to a close, finally doing away with his JokerImmunity. Likewise Arkham City, which was formerly the dilapidated area of Old Gotham -- Monarch Theatre, Crime Alley, Harvey Dent's old office, Penguin's ancestral museum -- gets converted into a prison and becomes a ghost town by the end of the game]].
175	** ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' [[spoiler:ends with Batman unmasked before the world by Scarecrow. While the GoldenEnding leaves it ambiguous if Batman died or not (though [[VideoGame/SuicideSquadKillTheJusticeLeague the next game]] reveals he survived...for a few more years anyway), his classic career as a superhero is finished. His allies move on and Gordon becomes the New Mayor.]]
176	** ''VideoGame/SuicideSquadKillTheJusticeLeague'' [[spoiler:has the Bat-Family be murdered by a brainwashed Batman, who then gets KilledOffForReal by the Suicide Squad, bringing Batman and the Bat-Family as a whole to a [[DownerEnding tragic end]].]]
177	* EnemyChatter: All games feature extensive dialogue between the many [[{{Mooks}} evil henchmen]] (and other characters); ranging from various cocky taunts and threats directed at Batman during combat and stealth segments, discussions about other characters (especially Batman and his RoguesGallery), commentary about various plot events happening throughout the game, funny anecdotes about their personal lives, creepy anecdotes about horrific crimes they've committed or witnessed, and other subjects.
178	* ExtremelyShortTimespan: Each game takes place over the course of a single night. This isn't too bad if you just play through the main plot, but it starts getting ridiculous as you tackle the sidequests and try to find all the collectibles (which will all take ''far more'' than just one night's worth of real-world time to complete).
179	* FingerprintingAir: The Detective Scanner lets Batman pick up on available clues in the environment to solve past crimes and hunt down criminals. While initially somewhat far-fetched (one prompt in ''Asylum'' has the player form a trail via detecting traces of alcohol in the air), ''Origins''' refines the process -- [[EverythingSensor the cowl's trackers]] are still extremely sensitive, but the clues themselves are more realistic and believable (like scanning impact points to identify a bullet's trajectory and origin of fire), and the crime scene reconstructions can be interacted with to highlight overlooked objects of interest. ''Knight'' takes it one step further by adding a deep tissue scanner, meaning Batman can analyze the skin, muscle and bone layers of corpses for possible abnormalities.
180	* FoeRomanceSubtext: All four games illustrate this in Joker and Batman's relationship, he whole series can read like an overall story of Batman and Joker's relationship.
181	** Starting early in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' with Joker: "Tell me Bats, what are you really scared of? Failing to save this cesspool of a city? Not finding the Commissioner in time? Me, in a thong?!" and that the premise of the whole night was a party Joker threw for Batman.
182	** Continuing in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' with the increasing phone calls from Joker to Batman, the [[spoiler: final death scene with Batman carrying Joker out in his arms, and Joker's swan song to Batman.]]
183	** Given their beginnings in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins'' when [[spoiler: Joker's obsession with Batman begins, including his Red Hood story and his mention of "meeting someone very special earlier tonight", and another song for Batman during the credits.]]
184	** It finally culminates in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' with [[spoiler: Hallucination!Joker mentioning over and over again being inside of Batman, the heavy indicators that Joker's death affected him so much that he could never return to normal (not even Talia's death is mentioned that much), and the serenade number Hallucination!Joker performed with a little help from Johnny Charisma]]. Catwoman even makes a dig at the relationship in ''Knight'', and how Batman should [[spoiler:stop mourning him and "find new maniacs"]].
185	* GameOfTheYearEdition: The main trilogy of the ''Arkham'' series has received a Game of the Year Edition on consoles and PC (''Arkham Knight'' however has some DLC that are only exclusive to the [=PlayStation=] 4 version).
186	* GameplayAndStorySegregation: You can do a lot of legitimately un-Batman-like things in this like literally yanking people off rooftops with your grapple. It's almost scary to the levels of VideoGameCrueltyPotential that is possible when you get to control the Dark Knight and decide not to abide by his [[ThouShaltNotKill code]]. But in-canon Batman is the same as he ever is so no one ever died by his hands.
187	* GenreBusting: Has elements of stealth, beat-em-up, RPG, survival horror, and {{Metroidvania}}, so it's hard to classify. The third game's multiplayer adds ThirdPersonShooter elements; the fourth adds driving and vehicular combat sections.
188	* GreenGators: Killer Croc, a mutant crocodilian man, has green scales with a grayish underbelly.
189	* GroinAttack: A common takedown move for Batman involves punching thugs in the pelvic ring. Which ends up looking like this trope.
190	* HateSink: The Riddler. Unlike most of the villains, who fall under the LoveToHate category to most fans, Riddler is a condescending, conceited InsufferableGenius that makes [[Series/TheBigBangTheory Sheldon Cooper]] look modest and both in-universe characters and many fans of the game absolutely despise him.
191	* HaveANiceDeath: Whenever the player dies, they get a brief scene of the antagonist they were dealing with taunting them.
192	* HeroesFightBarehanded: In Combat Mode, it is very possible for Batman to take on dozens of heavily armed enemies without using any gadgets. Batarangs included.
193	* HijackedByGanon: ''City'' had shades of this, with [[spoiler:Hugo Strange and Ra's al Ghul's plotline being wrapped up in a single cutscene and the Joker having by far the most screentime.]] ''Origins'' is full bore; despite hyping Black Mask up as the BigBad, [[spoiler:it was [[IdentityImpersonator Joker]] the entire time.]] Although, an observant player can notice the various hints dropped from the start of the game that this is the case. In ''Knight'', despite Scarecrow and the Arkham Knight being a BigBadDuumvirate, [[spoiler:Joker once again plays the role of a GreaterScopeVillain, whose death not only instigates the VillainTeamUp but keeps reappearing as a hallucination to Batman.]]
194	* HorrorDoesntSettleForSimpleTuesday: ''Origins'' takes place between Christmas Eve and Christmas morning; the DLC picks things up a week later on New Year's Eve. ''Knight'' takes place on Halloween night with a DLC set on a much earlier Valentine's Day.
195	* ImprobableAimingSkills: This is present in all of the games to an extent, but is really noticeable in ''Asylum'' and ''City'' in particular. This is more of a JustifiedTrope in ''Origins'' and ''Knight'', where Batman mostly goes up against cops and the Arkham Knight's [[BadassArmy militia]] respectively. Since these enemies are naturally professionally trained with firearms and would be much better shots, you'd expect to have a harder time dodging them. However, armed thugs in the games seem ''unnaturally'' accurate with guns. Batman can dive like a maniac, swing from vantage points like a drug-fueled monkey, inch towards the edge of a building so that only his cowl's ears are visible and inmates will nail him with every shot as he moves. It's undoubtably there to encourage players to take out armed opponents with stealth rather than brute force, but it's incredibly difficult to believe how a bunch of two-bit thugs could so easily keep a bead on the Bat with such consistency.
196	* InformedAbility: Two sets of people get hit with this in ''City'': the League of Assassins' warriors and Hugo Strange's TYGER guards. Each member of the League is described as being able to go up against 100 men in combat and win. Interacting with the display case in Penguin's lair that has a ninja in it says that she only managed to kill 8 of Penguin's goons before they held her down and beat her unconscious, casting serious doubt on this claim. Even in gameplay, while they are harder to fight than the thugs, they aren't much of a threat to Batman if you're good at countering. As for the TYGER guards, they are specifically noted to have been trained to fight against Batman efficiently. All this amounts to is that their heart rates never go beyond "Nervous" in combat and gameplay-wise, they aren't really any smarter or more dangerous than the rest of the enemies you face.
197	** In ''Knight'', the Arkham Knight's militia are also stricken with this. They are personally trained by the Knight himself to counter anything Batman may throw at them. They still exhibit the same reckless and unobservant behavior that the other enemies do ([[TooDumbToLive they don't even bother to look up during encounters, even when the Knight tells them that the Bat likes to attack from above, don't check your hiding places terribly well and constantly boast about how "one man couldn't possible defeat our army!"]]), only becoming aware of what's happening when the Knight gets on the intercom saying "he's picking you off from the rafters!" or "split up and travel in pairs!". Some militia members also mention that they have black belts in Krav Maga, but they aren't any better fighters than the rest of the militia. The only thing that gives the militia an edge over other factions is that they employ [[CombatMedic medics]], [[MultiMeleeMaster brutes]], and have access to various technology like Detective Mode-camouflaged uniforms and flying drones. Granted, they couldn't have anticipated the upgraded Batmobile to deal with as well, but an elite army designed to combat Batman should really have the skills and mindsets to back it up.
198	* InformedAttribute: In the Arkhamverse, ComicBook/TaliaAlGhul is established as Batman's true love. She's the one he's willing [[spoiler:to shelve his main quest in ''Arkham City'' to save from Joker. He mourns her in a brief moment in ''Arkham Knight'' and many characters and ComicBook/RaAlGhul himself call her the "love of his life". The problem is the only real interaction the two have on-screen is when Batman is trying to coerce her into taking him to the nearest Lazarus Pit by leading her on to think he'll sign up to be Ra's heir. She's stated to have the same peace-by-mass-murder philosophy as Ra's]] and more than once, Barbara questions [[WhatDoesSheSeeInHim what Bruce sees in her]].
199	* IntercomVillainy: The villains throughout the series are primarily heard over public intercoms played throughout buildings and neighborhoods they've hijacked. They give their minions advice on how to find Batman, complain about their performances, and threaten them in ways appropriate to their characters. This especially applies to the Riddler, who hacks into Batman's radio channels in every game just to taunt him.
200	* ItsProbablyNothing: {{Averted}} at low fear levels and {{Inverted}} at high fear levels. At the beginning of a stealth segment, the guards know that Batman is around somewhere, so they have the presence of mind to check anything out of the ordinary. Once they get panicky enough, they'll start freaking out at the slightest noise in fear that it might be Batman, whether or not it is.
201	* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: Batman usual MO. Anouncing there will be pain and giving unbearable beatings to lower mooks, until he gets the name of someone else above the chain of command or of a place.
202	-->'''Batman:''' You want teeth. I want answers!
203	* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity Hugo Strange, Talia al Ghul, The Joker]], [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight Poison Ivy, Killer Moth, Black Mask, Mr Freeze & his wife, Nora, and either Ra's al Ghul, or Nyssa Raatko (depending on what choice you made)]]]]
204	* KungFoley: One of the core parts of Arkham's free-flow combat is the exaggerated and satisfying sound design. When Batman hits a goon, his fists makes a sound like a shotgun blast and that sound gets even louder if he's knocking this mook out
205	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall:
206	** ''Arkham Asylum'':
207	*** As you complete more and more of the Riddler's challenges, he grows increasingly annoyed at Batman, at one point making this comment which seems like he's accusing the player of something they've likely done at least once:
208	---->'''Riddler:''' What? You're nearly done? Are you cheating? Looking them up on the internet? Tell me!
209	** ''Arkham City'':
210	*** This comes up frequently as EnemyChatter.
211	---->'''Criminal:''' Arkham City's worse than the old one. I should get a refund.
212	*** One dialogue among three thugs inside the museum during the epilogue initially sounds like they're just discussing what's going to happen to the inmates now that the Arkham City experiment has failed. But considering that players never hear who the 'they' they're talking about are, it sounds an awful lot like they're talking about where the sequel will take place. Here's the exchange, with a bit of paraphrasing.
213	---->'''Thug 1:''' So what happens now?\
214	'''Thug 2:''' I guess we'll just stay here until they figure out what they're doing next.\
215	'''Thug 3:''' C'mon, man. What could they do next? Arkham County? Arkham Country? Big-ass Arkham World?\
216	'''Thug 2:''' I dunno, man. These guys are crazy, aren't they?\
217	'''Thug 3:''' Yes, they are.
218	*** In "Harley Quinn's Revenge", a couple of thugs discuss the [[WildMassGuessing fan theory]] that [[spoiler: Batman carried Clayface out of Arkham City, not the Joker]] before one of them dismisses it as [[ThisIsReality stupid and unrealistic]]. The other responds that so was the idea of [[spoiler: two Jokers]].
219	*** Joker [[MediumAwareness (as usual)]] leans on the wall throughout all the games. However he outright leans so hard the fourth wall cracks with this line:
220	---->"Helloooo, Batman! You can hear me, right? It's just, you don't seem to be coming to the movie theatre, and I'd hate for you to read the spoilers on the Internet again!"
221	*** There's also Calendar Man's secret conversation. To access it, you need to set the game's clock to December 13, 2004 (the date of Rocksteady's founding):
222	----> '''Calendar Man''': Do you remember [[VideoGame/UrbanChaosRiotResponse my early work? Flawed, but it showed promise]]. Just like you. As your skills improved, I perfected mine. Starting with seasons, and moving through the weeks, I became stronger. [[SequelEscalation My work more elaborate]]. [[LampshadeHanging Days were the secret, Batman]]. [[EndOfSeriesAwareness And the end of days is coming]]. I was there [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins at your beginning]] and I will be there [[GrandFinale at your end]]."[[note]]In an amazing BrickJoke, [[spoiler:Calendar Man can be glimpsed in the crowd standing outside Wayne Manor as it blows up in the GoldenEnding of ''Arkham Knight''.]][[/note]]
223	** ''Arkham Knight'':
224	*** [[spoiler:The first time Batman hallucinates the Joker, he cackles, "Oh, don't act all surprised, Bats; you ''knew'' this was going to happen sooner or later!" — a not-so-subtle nod to everyone insisting he would return somehow, either revealed as NotQuiteDead or resurrected as the Arkham Knight.]]
225	*** One mook-chatter has one stating they've been through Arkham Asylum, Arkham City and Arkham Knight and wondering what will happen next. Another mook will then say that [[EndOfSeriesAwareness it's probably time to leave Gotham City]], while also noting they had a great run.
226	*** [[spoiler:If Batman stalls during the final confrontation with Penguin, waiting to save Nightwing from being held at gunpoint just to hear the entire conversation, Dick will nervously mention how Batman probably likes listening to this play out, but ''he'' doesn't.]]
227	* LoreCodex: Each game lets you access the Batcomputer's files in the pause menu to review the biographies of characters you've met, riddles the Riddler has tasked you with, and little short stories about the history of different places in Gotham.
228	* LuckBasedMission: Downplayed. The replayable predator challenges are easily beatable with enough skill, as long as the random guard patterns allow so. The maps usually allow at least one medal to be easily obtainable before the guards are alerted, but once they are, you may end up waiting several minutes to get the other medals.
229	* ModelMuseum: Across the franchise, collecting Riddler Trophies can unlock "Character Trophies", full turnaround models of characters and enemies that can be viewed from a selection from the main menu.
230	* MookHorrorShow: When using stealth ("Predator Mode"), you can not only use gadgets to spook enemies in a variety of ways, but you can use detective mode to see their steadily increasing heartbeat as you pick them off one by one. Their behavior also turns more erratic, jumping at shadows and firing wildly at nothing. When there is only one left, often they'll be too freaked out to put up a fight even if you just calmly walk towards them in full view.
231	* MushroomSamba: Once per game, Batman will be drugged somehow and experience surreal and creepy hallucinations.
232	** ''Asylum'' has the famous Scarecrow sequences.
233	** In ''City'', Batman gets poisoned by Joker and suffers a few hallucinations as a result. The same thing happens when Batman drinks some from a Lazarus Pit. Finally, a side quest has the Mad Hatter try to take over Batman's mind, taking him to a bizarre dreamscape.
234	** In ''Origins'', Copperhead uses a hallucinatory poison and the Mad Hatter returns for a repeat performance. In addition, [[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness we get to see a few scenes from Joker's insane perspective.]]
235	** In ''Origins: Blackgate'', [[spoiler: ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}]] temporarily blinds Batman with a flashbang during the final boss battle, resulting in a semi-hallucinogenic sequence where he tries to predict incoming attacks using only sound.
236	** '''Way''' too many to count in ''Knight''.
237	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Stealth is as much important as speed in hostage missions. If you're spotted too early before dispatching other thugs, or if you are too slow, the villains won't hesitate in killing them, triggering a Game Over.
238	* NoCommunitiesWereHarmed: Gotham's similarity to New York City has never been more apparent. Let's see: there's Miagani Island (Manhattan; it's even named after the native American tribe that used to live there), Grand Avenue (Times Square), the Lady of Gotham (Statue of Liberty), Amusement Mile (Coney Island)... Gotham North and South seem to be Long Island, but with some bits of Manhattan, like a Bowery and Diamond District).
239	* NoFlowInCGI: Averted; Batman's cape is very fluid and reacts realistically to his movements and the surrounding environment. In ''Arkham Asylum'', at least, a member of the development team spent an entire year working solely on Batman's cape to get it just right.
240	* NonLethalKO: Some of the things Batman can do like shooting people in the head with the Batmobile's cannon (which apparently is "non-lethal" but even a rubber bullet traveling at that velocity would probably cave a guy's head in; those are meant to be shot center-mass) or taking a car door and slamming it on a thug's neck after knocking him down don't seem very non-lethal but it's Batman so they're fine.
241	* NothingIsTheSameAnymore: The Arkham games inflict long-term changes and damages in a manner that the comics continuity does not. [[spoiler:Both Arkham and Blackgate are ravaged in ''Asylum'', Joker dies in ''City'' and stays dead, as does Hugo Strange, Ra's (he gets better, but for how long, it's up to you) and Talia. Batman gets outed as Bruce Wayne in ''Arkham Knight'' and goes underground]].
242	* NoticeThis: Only in Detective Mode, though, since it highlights objects of interest.
243	* ObligatorySwearing: There's very little blood and no sex in the game. Characters like Killer Croc are characterised as swearing almost habitually.
244	* PrisonRiot: A OnceAnEpisode occurrence. Every game features a prison on the verge of mass outbreak, with the exception of ''Origins'', where the mass outbreak is actually what kickstarts the plot.
245	* RatedMForManly: It's a series of games about becoming a quintessential BadassNormal and beating up loads of people to singlehandledly save a city, can't get manlier than that!
246	* RetCanon: Bane's appearance in ''Asylum'' and ''City'' initially inspired his redesign in The ComicBook/{{New 52}}, though it's since been revised to add [[Film/TheDarkKnightRises a vest and cargo pants]].
247	* {{Retcon}}: Some of the original info from ''Asylum'' character bios has been overwritten later in the series by both WB Montreal and Rocksteady.
248	* RoguesGalleryShowcase: One of the series' selling points is that players get the opportunity to meet and beat up Batman's rogues.
249	* RunTheGauntlet: The entire series is a glorious invocation of this trope. Every game has tons of famous villains from Batman's Rogues Gallery, and a big part of the enjoyment of the series is seeing how each one of them is represented. You'll be taking down a bunch of them throughout the game, either relegated to side content or as part of the main plot as [[ArcVillain Arc Villains]]. Because the ''Arkham'' games are an UltimateUniverse, some of the fun is seeing how elements from ''The Animated Series,'' the Tim Burton films, the Christopher Nolan films, and the comics all blend together for each villain.
250	* SceneryPorn: Oh yes. ''City'' takes it further because, well, it's out in the open city, and ''Origins'' as well, being even more of the city (along with some SceneryGorn in the Firefly sequence). Finally, ''Knight'' takes things up to eleven as one of the most detailed and beautiful (not to mention somewhat destructible, thanks to the Batmobile) environments on the current generation of consoles.
251	* SchizoTech: CRT televisions, cigarette vending machines, and magnetic audio tape all exist alongside LCD monitors, electronic restraint collars, and advanced broadcast encryption technology. In ''Origins'', there are even advertisements for trans-Atlantic zeppelin flights, while Batman spends most of the game flying around in a supersonic jet.
252	* ScoringPoints: Each game features challenge maps where you can fight a couple waves of enemy (generally four) and get points based on what your highest combo was and the variety of moves you used. If you get high enough points, you can also earn up to three medals, which you need for 100% completion. Of all the bonuses to your points, the biggest is the Flawless Freeflow bonus, which you get for completing a round in a single combo without taking damage.
253	* SerialEscalation: Each game ups both the playable environment and the stakes involved.
254	** In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', Arkham Island constitutes the playable area and Batman has to both recapture all the escaped inmates and stop the Joker from unleashing an army of TITAN soldiers on the city.
255	** In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'', the walled super-prison of Arkham City makes up the playable area and Batman has to both stop the Joker from poisoning the city with his infected blood and prevent Hugo Strange from enacting [[FinalSolution Protocol 10]].
256	** In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins'', Old Gotham and a few more bits constitute the playable area, and this time Batman is up against eight of the world's deadliest assassins, as well as hundreds of escaped criminals and mercenaries loose on the streets, all looking to collect the huge bounty on Batman's head and not afraid to kill innocents and destroy property to draw him out.
257	** In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', the three islands of downtown Gotham make up the playable area and Batman is up against the greatest odds yet, with Scarecrow developed a new fear toxin which he plans to disperse over the entire Eastern Seaboard, the Arkham Knight having conquered the city with his huge militia army, and [[spoiler: the Joker threatening to take over Batman's mind from beyond the grave]].
258	* ShowsDamage: In you're using the default costume Batman can and will show injuries and battle damage over the course of the games. Likewise in both ''City'' and ''Knight'', Catwoman, Robin, and Nightwing's default costumes will also show battle damage.
259	* SpiritualSuccessor: To the Batman-related parts of the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse, especially because its [[Creator/PaulDini writer]] wrote for the first two games and several of its voice actors appear in the series, either reprising their roles or taking on new ones.
260	* SupermanStaysOutOfGotham: [[{{Reconstruction}} Reconstructed]] rather satisfyingly. Since every game takes place in less than a night, Batman simply has no time to phone in ComicBook/Superman or ComicBook/GreenLantern to help him.
261	* UrbanRuins:
262	** ''Arkham City'''s titular city is a rotting, sequestered part of Gotham that has been fractured by flooding, earthquakes and bombings from the various gangs imprisoned in the City. The entire place is littered with starving criminals fighting over limited food drops. [[spoiler:This is especially prominent after Protocol 10 removes a fifth of the population and sets some of the city's landmarks aflame.]]
263	** ''Arkham Knight'' sees the entirety of Gotham City evacuated after a terrorist threat from the Scarecrow, leaving Batman's RoguesGallery to burn the fire stations, prey on remaining civilians and tear apart Gotham's banks. Not to mention the army of tanks and drones the [[TheDragon Arkham Knight]] sets loose. [[spoiler:This is especially prominent after the Scarecrow releases the Cloudburst, blanketing the city streets in Fear gas.]]
264	* UtilityWeapon: Most weapons/gadgets have three functions: one in melee combat, one in the stealth sections, and one for exploration (although the utility and stealth functions frequently overlap). The main exception for a long time was the Cryptographic Sequencer -- it was mainly used as a "have you beat the goons yet?" gate, though got some use in decoding and pinpointing radio transmissions from ''City'' onwards, and received a full secondary function in ''Knight'' (hacking or temporarily shutting down enemy devices) for Predator challenges.
265	* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: Granted, it's ''criminals'' that Batman's dealing with, but he can be quite the dirty combatant if he feels like it. He can air-launch The Penguin as Bruce Wayne at the start of ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity City]]''. He can fire endless electrical charges at hapless mooks just for the fun of it ([[SchmuckBait Just don't do this to mooks with guns.]]) He can do a similar thing with smoke bombs (though this doesn't hurt them; just confuses them. Again, [[SchmuckBait don't do this against mooks with guns unless you're at a safe distance.]])
266	* VideoGamePerversityPotential:
267	** The possibility of zooming and observing, from "interesting" angles, female characters such as ComicBook/HarleyQuinn and ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}.
268	** Exaggerated when ''Knight'' gave players photo mode, and three playable well-shaped female characters. Default Selina and Harley have cleavage, and alternate outfits are tighter, especially from the back. For whatever reason, even ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}'s ''armor'' tightens up behind her cape.

Context Franchise / BatmanArkhamSeries